ASWB LMSW Practice Exam Questions and Correct
Answers
A social worker employed by a retirement home is approached by a client for
help in establishing a recycling program in the facility. The social worker decides
to cohost a meeting with the client to discuss the idea with other residents.
What is the MOST likely reason for this approach?
A. Antagonizing administration could be dangerous.
B. Legitimizing the residents' concerns may be helpful.
C. Helping residents start new relationships is important.
D. Sharing leadership is very effective with groups.
D. Legitimizing the residents' concerns may be helpful.
By sharing leadership with the resident (key D), the social worker is supporting the
resident's skill development as well as promoting positive group dynamics.
Options (A) and (B)
draw conclusions without substantiated information. While the potential for
beginning new relationships (C) exists, it is not the MOST likely reason for the co-
facilitation.
At what age is separation anxiety MOST likely to occur?
A. 24 months
B. 12 months
C. 3 months
B. 12 months
,This item requires basic recall that separation anxiety is most typical around the
age of 12 months (key B).
A nine-month-old child is neglected and lacks a secure attachment to a caretaker.
What long-term effect should the social worker be MOST concerned about as
the child gets older?
A. Posttraumatic stress disorder
B. Social anxiety in middle age
C. High bleed pressure
D. Negative social interactions with peers
D. Negative social interactions with peers
The MOST strongly linked long-term effect of insecure attachment is future
negative social interactions with peers (key D). Posttraumatic stress disorder (B)
is a short-term effect, while high blood pressure (C) and later social anxiety (D) are
not directly linked to attachment difficulties.
A 13-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker because of poor hygiene,
sleeping in class, and stealing food from the cafeteria. What should the social
worker assess for FIRST?
A. A conduct disorder
B. Child neglect
,C. Substance abuse
D. Adolescent rebellion
B. Child Neglect
The social worker should understand that the behaviors are indicators of neglect.
The social worker should assess if the adolescent's basic needs are being met
FIRST.
A school social worker meets with parents of a child who has recently
completed treatment for cancer. The child's physician is recommending that the
child return to school as soon as possible, but the parents believe that more
time at home would be beneficial. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Advocate for the parents to keep the child at home
B. Explore the reasons for the parents' beliefs
C. Obtain the child's perspective on the situation
D. Refer the parents and child for family therapy
B. Explore the reasons for the parents' beliefs
Before taking action, the social worker should acknowledge and validate the
parents' concerns and explore the events and emotions that have led to these
concerns (key B). Advocating that the child stay at home (A) is not supported by
the physician's recommendation. Although the social worker may eventually want
to obtain the child's perspective (C), this would not be the NEXT step. There are no
indications of family dysfunction that would warrant family therapy (D).
, A social worker begins a job at a psychiatric hospital and is assigned a caseload.
One of the clients is a former intimate partner. The social worker and client have
not had any contact for several years. What should the social worker do?
A. Process the issue with the client
B. Deny the relationship occurred
C. Transfer the client to a colleague
D. Request a transfer to a different department
C. Transfer the client to a colleague
To avoid the ethical dilemma of dual relationships, the social worker should
transfer the client to another social worker (key C). Processing the issue with the
client (A) is not going to resolve the ethical dilemma. Denying the existence of the
past relationship (B) is unethical. Asking for a transfer to another department (D)
avoids the issue entirely.
A client who is trying to become pregnant uses cocaine consistently and has
questions about the effects on the fetus. The social worker tells the client that
cocaine use could harm the fetus. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Offer substance abuse treatment options to the client
B. Refer the case for possible criminal prosecution
C. Inform the client that the drug use will be reported to child protective services
Answers
A social worker employed by a retirement home is approached by a client for
help in establishing a recycling program in the facility. The social worker decides
to cohost a meeting with the client to discuss the idea with other residents.
What is the MOST likely reason for this approach?
A. Antagonizing administration could be dangerous.
B. Legitimizing the residents' concerns may be helpful.
C. Helping residents start new relationships is important.
D. Sharing leadership is very effective with groups.
D. Legitimizing the residents' concerns may be helpful.
By sharing leadership with the resident (key D), the social worker is supporting the
resident's skill development as well as promoting positive group dynamics.
Options (A) and (B)
draw conclusions without substantiated information. While the potential for
beginning new relationships (C) exists, it is not the MOST likely reason for the co-
facilitation.
At what age is separation anxiety MOST likely to occur?
A. 24 months
B. 12 months
C. 3 months
B. 12 months
,This item requires basic recall that separation anxiety is most typical around the
age of 12 months (key B).
A nine-month-old child is neglected and lacks a secure attachment to a caretaker.
What long-term effect should the social worker be MOST concerned about as
the child gets older?
A. Posttraumatic stress disorder
B. Social anxiety in middle age
C. High bleed pressure
D. Negative social interactions with peers
D. Negative social interactions with peers
The MOST strongly linked long-term effect of insecure attachment is future
negative social interactions with peers (key D). Posttraumatic stress disorder (B)
is a short-term effect, while high blood pressure (C) and later social anxiety (D) are
not directly linked to attachment difficulties.
A 13-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker because of poor hygiene,
sleeping in class, and stealing food from the cafeteria. What should the social
worker assess for FIRST?
A. A conduct disorder
B. Child neglect
,C. Substance abuse
D. Adolescent rebellion
B. Child Neglect
The social worker should understand that the behaviors are indicators of neglect.
The social worker should assess if the adolescent's basic needs are being met
FIRST.
A school social worker meets with parents of a child who has recently
completed treatment for cancer. The child's physician is recommending that the
child return to school as soon as possible, but the parents believe that more
time at home would be beneficial. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Advocate for the parents to keep the child at home
B. Explore the reasons for the parents' beliefs
C. Obtain the child's perspective on the situation
D. Refer the parents and child for family therapy
B. Explore the reasons for the parents' beliefs
Before taking action, the social worker should acknowledge and validate the
parents' concerns and explore the events and emotions that have led to these
concerns (key B). Advocating that the child stay at home (A) is not supported by
the physician's recommendation. Although the social worker may eventually want
to obtain the child's perspective (C), this would not be the NEXT step. There are no
indications of family dysfunction that would warrant family therapy (D).
, A social worker begins a job at a psychiatric hospital and is assigned a caseload.
One of the clients is a former intimate partner. The social worker and client have
not had any contact for several years. What should the social worker do?
A. Process the issue with the client
B. Deny the relationship occurred
C. Transfer the client to a colleague
D. Request a transfer to a different department
C. Transfer the client to a colleague
To avoid the ethical dilemma of dual relationships, the social worker should
transfer the client to another social worker (key C). Processing the issue with the
client (A) is not going to resolve the ethical dilemma. Denying the existence of the
past relationship (B) is unethical. Asking for a transfer to another department (D)
avoids the issue entirely.
A client who is trying to become pregnant uses cocaine consistently and has
questions about the effects on the fetus. The social worker tells the client that
cocaine use could harm the fetus. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Offer substance abuse treatment options to the client
B. Refer the case for possible criminal prosecution
C. Inform the client that the drug use will be reported to child protective services
